SOUVESTRE, Henry Vieturnien, Chevalier de, French naval officer, born near Rochefort in 1729; died at sea, 12 April, 1782. He entered the navy as a midshipman in 1744, and fought at Louisbourg and in the campaign in Canada in 1756-'9. After the conclusion of peace he was attached to the station of North America, and made a cruise in 1771 to Halifax and Newfoundland to determine the longitude of several points. When France declared war against England in 1778 he commanded a frigate and was ordered to the West Indies, where he cap-Lured several English privateers. Joining afterward Vaudreuil's division, he was employed to convey troops to Martinique and Santo Domingo, and participated under De Guichen in the engagements of 17 April and 15 and 19 May, 1780. When Count de Grasse left for Chesapeake bay, 5 July, 1781, Souvestre assumed command of the few frigates that were left at the disposal of the Marquis de Bouille, and successfully opposed the English forces in the West Indies, repelled their landing in Martinique and Dominica, and conveyed the French troops that captured St. Eustatius, Saba, and St. Martin in 1781. Joining Vaudreuil's division early in 1782, he assisted at the battle off Dominica, 12 April, 1782, and through his suggestion Vandreuil, when he saw the perilous position of De Grasse, assumed command of the whole fleet. While carrying Vaudreuil's orders to the other divisions Souvestre was killed.